Mechanical refrigeration



Patented Oct. 23, 1928.

UNITED STA FICK CHARLES O. SPREEN', 01' IDE'IROI'I, MICHIGAN MECHANICAL REFBIGERA'IION.-

Applioation flled Inne 4,

My invention relates to mechanical refrigeration, and particularly to refrigerating. units for domestic refrigeration apparatus, and the principal object of my inVention is 130 provide new and improved units of this type. In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming apart of th1s application I have shown, for purposes of illus-' tration, several forms w hich my invention niay ass1ime. In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation showing one illustrative embodiment of my inve ntion Figure 2 is a sid elevation of the embodiment shown in Figure l,

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2,

Figures 4 through 6 are views similar to Figure 2 showing three further embodiments of my invention, while Figures 7 und 8 are views simila'r to Figure 3 showing two further embodiments which my invention may assume.

'llhe embodiment of my invention shofvn in Figures 1 through 3 comprises a brine t-ank 11 supporting the usual 'expansion valve 12 and the usual end turns 13 carrying the thermostat 14, containing within itself an expansion coiL(not shown) connected between the expansion valve 12 and the end turns 13, and.

provided with recesses 15 extending in from. the front face thereof and arranged to accommodate receptacles 16 for the formation of artificial ice under the action of the refrigerating unit.

It is well known to those skilled in the art that during the operation of a refrigerating unit of this type frost gradually accumulates 011 the exterior surface of the brine tank 11, that this accumulation of frost continually decreases 'the rate of absorption 01 heat from the refrigerator cabinet into the refrigemting unit, and that periodic defrosting of the refrigerating unit is ordinarily requirerl.

In order to lengthen the period during which a refrigerating unit Will operate SSLS- factorily without defrosting, or perhaps t0 eliminate ent-irely the necessity for any defrosting, and inbrder t0 at all. bimes greatly increase t-he rate of heat absorption from Ithe refrigerator cabinet into the refri erating unit, I provide 0n each side face 1% 0f the brine tank 11 a plurality of fins 18 convoluted to provide additional length, extending generally vertically in order not to preventthe dropping from the refrigerating unit by gravity of frost which may become dislodged 1926. Se'rial m. 113,865!

or 1i1elted, und. projec ting from th e brine tank 11 a distance greater than the thickness to which the frost Will accumulate on the brine 'stat 22, again containing an expansion coil (not shown) extending between the expansion valve 20 a1nd end turns 21, but omitting the recesses 15 f0r the ice receptacles 16, und accordingly provided with fins 23 011 all four lateral faces, the fins 23 having a diflerent convolution from the fins 18 of the embodiment of rny inventi'on shown in Figures 1 through 3 but being convoluted, extending generally Vertically in order to again not prevent the dropping by gravity of frost which may become dislodged, and again projecting from the brine tank a distancegreater than the thickneSs to which the frost will accumulate under normal operation of the refrigerating unit.

The embodiments of my invention shown in Figures 5 ancl 6 are in all respects similar 150 the einbod iment shown in Fi re 4 except that they substitute for t e zig-zzig fins 23 of theembodi'ment shown in F1gure 1 diagonal fins 241 ancl vertical fins 25, respectively.

The embodiment of my inventi on shoWn in Figure 7 comprisesa brine tank 26 again supporting the usual expansion valve 27 and the usual end turns 28 carrying the thermostat 29, containing an expanswn coil (not shown) extenoling between the expansion valve 27 and the end turns 28, provided with recesses (not shown) similar to those provided in (ehe 'embodimemt o f my invention shown in Figures 1 through 3, an provided 0n its side Walls 30 with fins replacing the fins 18 01 the embodiment of m invention shown in Figures 1 through 3 %ut formed from a single sl1eet of material 31 arranged in loops 32 disposed on theaside faces 30 of the brine tank 26 and alternated with base tank 26 a dista nce greater t an the thickness I units particularly suitable for domestic met0 which the frost forrns under normal operation of the refrigerating unit.

The embodiment 0f my invention disclosed in Figre 8 is in all respects similar to that shown in Figure 7 except that it substitutes for the rounded loops 32 of the embodirnent shown in Figure 7 pointed loopS 35 acting in the same general manner as the rounded loop; 32 of the embodiment shown in Figure It will be understoo, of course, that the types of fins shown in the embodiment of Figures 1 through 3 und in the embodiments 0f Figures 7 und 8 ma.y be used with a refrigerating unit of the type shown in Figures 4 through 6, and thatfins of the types shown in Figures 4 through 6 may be used with refrigerating units 0f t-he type shown in Figures 1 through 3 and in Figures 7 and 8.

From the above description itwill also be obvious to those skilled in the. art that I have provided new and improved refr igerating chanical refri eratioh. At. the same time it will also be 0 vious to those skilled in the art that the particular embodiments of my be variously ohanged and modified without departing from the spirit of my inventio'n 01 sacrificing the advantages thereof and -it will therefore be understood that the disclosuna herein is illustrative only und that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claifn:

For use in connection with a supply of compressed refrigerant, and in a refrigera tor cabinet, and f0r cooling such cabinet, and under con ditions Which normally cause the accumulation of frosf 0n the exterior 0f thebrine tank thereof, a cooling unit comprising: such brine t-ank, a refrigerant expansion chamber within said brine tank, und a plurality of fins disposed on at least one 0f the exterior Walls 0f said brine'tgmk and extending outwardly therefrom a Elistance greater than the thickness to which such fro st accumulates under normal operating conditions;

signature.

CHARLES o. SPREEN.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my 

